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Saturday, 27 October 2012

A typical shopping trip?

Chris and I took the opportunity to go up to the touristy end of town yesterday, to take our time browsing the craft shops, antiques shops and other such lovely places that we don't get to usually. I came home with a very eclectic mix of things, as you can see. I bought the book on making beads as it has felt and polymer clay in it, as well as paper, metal and glass, which I will probably not be investigating, but it is always good to have inspiration. The other book appealed to the nosey side of my nature, being made from women's letters over 800 years. I shall look forward to curling up with that later. There are also some purple and white patterned napkins which were languishing in a 'each item for £2.00' basket, so I had to buy them, didn't I? There are also some circle cutters for making bigger polymer clay pendants, some beads and a candlestick. (Not exactly a normal day's shopping - even for me).

The stripy beads caught my eye for macrame work and I couldn't resist the cubes of coated haematite which the camera doesn't really do justice to. In real life they are vibrant golds, blues, greens and pinks, depending which face you look at.

The piece de resistance of my trip just has to be this sweet little candlestick. I stood looking at it for quite a while in the shop. The raised flower pattern caught my eye and then I saw the gold pattern on the black background. Once I had asked to look at it and was holding it, that was it, I had to buy it!

How could I resist this beautiful gold dotty pattern?

The little raised decoration flowers are so pretty, in blues, purples, pinks and yellows. Once I got it home and carefully washed and dried it, I looked it up on the internet. (It is at times like this that I really value the internet). The piece was made by RH and SL Plant Ltd between 1936 and 1947 and is Tuscan China although I haven't yet discovered what the pattern is called. They made many, many teas sets in lots of patterns, but did seem to favour the floral. I think my mum owns one with a love-in-the-mist pattern and I will have to check that next time I visit. The factory was in Longton, Staffordshire and continued until 1972 when Wedgwood took them over. The factory closed in 2006.
This little candlestick is definitely my favourite find of the day!

Welcome to a new follower, Melissa. I hope you will enjoy reading my blog.

6 comments:

What a lovely shopping expedition! That candlestick is irresistible - love the pastel raised flowers and the gold dotty pattern. Am wondering about the size of the candle it holds. Is it for a slim tall cancel or for a stubbier one? The cavity looks wider than for a dinner candle but that may be just the angle of the camera. It's very spring-like - come Easter you could nestle tiny foil wrapped Easter eggs on the lip around the base of the candle in the same colours as the flowers or even at Christmas tiny glass baubles in those colours.... Just a thought! E x

Dear EThank you very much for your comment. The candlestick holds a tall, slim candle. It is very Spring-like with the little flowers. Thank you too for those great ideas of making it a seasonal centrepiece - I think they would look lovely!Best wishesEllie

Dear ToffeeappleThank you very much for your comment and welcome! I hope you will enjoy reading my blog posts. Do please join in with my giveaway if you would like to - you just need to let me know you would like to be entered by commenting on the giveaway blog post. There is nothing else to do, but there is no pressure either way.Best wishesEllie

Evil Housework

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About Me

I share the house and garden with my husband and a cat. I hate housework but love gardening. I have outgrown my small garden (my husband calls it my 'nursery of experiments') and spend many hours drooling over gardening books, dreaming of what I will do when I get my half acre of land! I also enjoy reading, baking, jewellery making, have recently started sewing and then there is felt making. I would love to have enough space for an art studio/craft room, but make do with the sitting room table for now.